Middle Neebish Lighthouse

A messy hike to an ugly, unkempt lighthouse. Why go? Well I'm a bit of a lighthouse nut and, unfortunately, this one's on the list. I had visited back in the late 90's but, with no surviving photos, I was compelled to return. Things hadn't improved in the last decade to my dismay...I got just as wet if not wetter than the last time I visited...can't say it wasn't interesting though...

About a quarter mile in the ATV heads under some power lines...and the trail gets messy from here.

Middle Neebish Lighthouse Trail Road

Almost hunting season...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse Trail Road

I had arrived two days before firearm deer season...however, opening day in the UP can be a very fluid concept and I wasn't wearing any orange...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse Trail Road

No good choices here...the site of my first wet appendage.

Middle Neebish Lighthouse Trail Road

Maybe things are improving...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse Trail Road

Late autumn woods...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse Trail Road

Someone had cut the brush along the trail and laid it atop of it. Made for very tricky footing...and there was still water below.

Middle Neebish Lighthouse Trail Road

An old hunting stand...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse Trail Road

About a quarter mile from the light the power lines make a sharp right turn to the river...

Middle Neebish Range Light

A new range light uphill

Middle Neebish Lighthouse Trail Road

Doesn't look so bad...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse Trail Road

It wasn't long before I found myself off-trail avoiding water...

Middle Neebish Range Light

Coming up on another range light...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse Trail Road

The range light clearing...a nice, dry place for a breather.

Middle Neebish Range Light

A closer look...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse Trail Road

This was getting old...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse Trail Road

Thankfully unoccupied...didn't want to upset an armed Yooper in the backwoods...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse Trail Road

Time to make another detour...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse Trail Road

Going off-trail...this sucked...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse Trail Road

THE RIVER!!!

Middle Neebish Lighthouse Trail Road

So close...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse Trail Road

But yet, so far...no dry ground...Beneath all the high brush in this photo is between 6 inches and two feet of water. I had to suck it up and get my feet wet from here.

Middle Neebish Lighthouse

Middle Neebish Light - The light, constructed in 1907, has been neglected for years and it looks it. Not that this light would win any beauty pageants freshly painted anyway. The corroded steel tower sits about 150 yards back from the river right behind the newer steel range light built in 1993.

Middle Neebish Lighthouse

A peek inside...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse

I wouldn't recommend climbing...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse

The old supply track offered a dry path over the marsh...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse

Pier remains...

St. Mary's River

St. Mary's River...That's Canada across the way...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse

Middle Neebish Light Pano

Middle Neebish Lighthouse

Closeup from the beach...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse

Not sure the purpose of the dual range lights (note the different color stripes).

Middle Neebish Lighthouse

Through the pines...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse

The old and the new...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse

Abandoned lantern room...

Middle Neebish Lighthouse

One last shot...I was going to use both hands for balance rather than shooting photos on the way back...